Archaeological Site of Carthage

• Land development and infrastructures within the property
• Legal framework
• Housing
• Management system / management plan

International Safeguarding Campaign, 1973-1989

On 31 January 2020, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/37/documents/ and outlines progress in addressing the recommendations of the Committee at its 42nd and 43rd sessions, as follows:

• The main threat to the property is still related to illegal construction activities carried out since the Revolution of Freedom and Dignity of December 2010 – January 2011. The eastern part of the Roman Circus district is the area most impacted by such constructions and associated development pressures. Although construction works were halted at the National Police Officers’ Training School in Salammbô, steps to demolish the illegal structures have been delayed. Nevertheless, dozens of illegal structures have already been demolished, and two major waste disposal operations were undertaken;
• A policy of land acquisition has been launched as a means of controlling development pressures at the property. Three plots were purchased in 2018 and another three in 2019, including one in the Roman Circus area. Steps are being taken by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to reclaim land that was confiscated following the Revolution;
• The draft Protection and Presentation Plan (PPMV 2020) for the property has been revised and updated in the light of a minor boundary modification proposal and steps are now being taken to adopt the final version. A maintenance programme for the property is under development;
• As a contribution to the preparation of an archaeological and conservation strategy for the property, an international symposium was organized in July 2019. The symposium’s main recommendations include the development of a detailed topographic plan for the property, strengthening the role of preventive archaeological research and the focus on conservation practices, giving appropriate consideration to all structures including hydraulic remains, the creation of an international scientific Advisory Committee, and enhancing the engagement of local communities;

In September 2019, a research unit for preventative archaeology was created within the National Institute of Heritage. It will focus on archaeology in urban areas constituting the envisaged buffer zone.

On 10 March 2020, the National Institute of Heritage informed the World Heritage Centre that the demolition of the illegal construction at the National Police Officer Training School had started.

The work being undertaken to halt illegal construction work and to demolish some of the illegal buildings, including those at the National Police Officers’ Training School in Salammbô, is to be commended, although in some cases the demolition processes are being delayed as a result of constraints related to a change of government.

The key measures to start controlling development affecting the property are the new policy of land acquisition and actions taken by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to reclaim land that was confiscated following the Revolution. So far, six plots have been acquired, including one in the Roman Circus area. A minor boundary modification proposal has been submitted for evaluation, and feedback has been provided by the World Heritage Centre requesting further information to ensure the conformity with the Operational Guidelines requirements. The creation in September 2019 of a research unit for preventative archaeology within the National Heritage Institute is welcomed.

Although these are all positive steps, some concerns remain unclarified. Although the draft PPMV 2020 has been revised to take into account the minor boundary modification proposal, it is not clear how it will be integrated with the local development plan. No response has been provided to the Committee’s recommendation concerning the preparation and adoption of a Management Plan, nor to the recommendations of the 2019 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Advisory mission that included setting up communication strategies with local stakeholders and reviewing legislative protection.

Addressing the socio-economic root causes of development pressures remains a key challenge. Although including more land under state ownership would help to restrict development, it cannot be considered as the only tool necessary to mitigate development pressure. It is still necessary to address the way that management of the property relates to the wider urban development plans and tools, and particularly those that relate to socio-economic development. There needs to be more of a symbiotic relationship between the surrounding areas and the property rather than considering the latter as an isolated island. Although this may not seem easy to achieve, given the comparatively small size of the property and its location in a large urban metropolis, it would help provide residents with the opportunity to participate in the enhancement of the site.